Family:Whitney, James Madison (1819-1901)

James⁷ Whitney (Charles⁶, Jonathan⁵, James⁴, Joseph³, Jonathan², John¹), son of Charles⁶ and Abigail (Smith) Whitney, was born 4 Jan 1819, Brookfield, VT,^[1] and died 11 Feb 1901, Bristol, VT, aged 83 years, of old age.^[2]

He "of Williamstown" married firstly, 27 Apr 1840, Brookfield, VT, Eliza Staples, "of Brookfield",^[3] daughter of Benjamin and Fanny (-----) Staples. She was born about 1813-1814, Brookfield, VT, and died 27 Jul 1872, Barre, VT, aged 58 years, of consumption.^[4] She was buried in Williamstown Village Cemetery, Williamstown, VT.^[5]

He married secondly, 16 Apr or 3 Jul 1877, Bristol, VT, Elmina Aminda Sunderland, dau. of Daniel C. and Laura (Haines) Sundeland.^[6] She was born about 1835, Bridport, VT, and died 26 Mar 1914, Bridport, VT, aged 79 years 1 month 7 days, of dilatation of heart.^[7] They were divorced.

He "of Bristol" married thirdly, 15 Mar 1884, Nashua, NH, Catharine F. (Reed) Smith,^[8] daughter of Cyrus and Betsey (-----) Reed. She was born about 1828, Londonderry, VT, and died 17 Jan 1892, Grafton, VT, aged 66 years 1 month 27 days, of pneumonia.^[9]

He resided Bristol, VT.

Children of James Madison⁷ and Eliza (Staples) Whitney:

i.	George8 Whitney, b. ca. 1841, VT; d. 10 Oct 1857, aged 16 years; bur. Williamstown Village Cemetery, Williamstown, VT.[10]
ii.	Fanny M. Whitney, b. ca. 1844, VT; d. 1913; bur. Williamstown Village Cemetery, Williamstown, VT;[11] m. 4 or 5 Apr 1864, Montpelier, VT, Gilman Jackson.[12]
iii.	Ellen C. Whitney, b. ca. 1846, VT; m. 28 Jul 1870, Montpelier, VT, Edson E. Colby, son of Edson E. and Angeline (Dearborn) Colby.[13]
iv.	Martha Whitney, b. ca. 1852, VT; d. 26 Oct 1869, Williamstown, VT, aged 17 years of consumption;[14] bur. Williamstown Village Cemetery, Williamstown, VT.[15]

Notes

There is confusion about his parentage. His marriage to Eliza Staples states his parentage as son of Charles Whitney and Abigail Smith.^[16] Likewise his marriage to Almina A. Sunderland does, too.^[17] Her death record says that she was divorced. Similarly, his marriage to Catherine F. (Reed) Smith gives his father as Charles Whitney (b. Hartland, VT), and him born in Brookfield, VT.^[18] The gravestone inscriptions for George and Martha in Williamstown Village Cemetery call them children of J. M. and Eliza or E. Whitney, and Eliza is buried there, too.

There is a problem, however, with his age. The censuses of 1850 and 1860 imply that he was born in 1808 or 1810, not 1819. James hasn't been found in 1870. Brookfield and Williamstown are adjacent, but Bristol is four towns distant.

Census

• 1840, Northfield, Washington Co., VT: James Whitney, 1 male 20-29 and 1 female 20-29; 1 engaged in manufacturing or trades.
• 1840, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT: J. M. Whitney, 2 males 20-29 and 1 female 20-29; 2 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT:

52 52 James M. Whitney 42 M - Blacksmith Vt. Eliza S. " 37 F - " George " 9 M - " Attended school Fanny " 6 F - " Attended school Ellen " 4 F - " Attended school

• 1860, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT:

163 165 James M. Whitney 50 M - Blacksmith $1000 $30 Vermont Eliza " 47 F - " Fanney " 17 F - " Attended school Ellen " 14 F - " Attended school Martha " 8 F - " Attended school

• 1870: not found.
• 1870, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT:

249 259 Whitney, Eliza 57 F W Keeping House $500 $150 Vermont

• 1880, Bristol, Addison Co., VT:

Arba F. MANSFIELD 49 Self M M W VT Wagon Manfu VT VT Sarah E. MANSFIELD 41 Wife F M W VT Keeps House VT VT Myrtie B. MANSFIELD 16 Dau F S W VT At Home VT VT Marion S. MANSFIELD 5 Dau F S W VT VT VT Henry KELLOG 56 BroL M M W VT VT VT Marriah S. KELLOG 50 Sis F M W VT Domestic Servant VT VT James WHITNEY 60 Oth M M W VT VT VT Almina WHITNEY 45 Oth F M W VT Dress Maker VT VT

• 1900, Bristol, Addison Co., VT: James Whitney, widowed, boarder, b. Jan 1819, VT, parents b. VT.

References

• Census records.

1.^  Vermont, Vital Records Index, All Births.

2.^  Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954, at FamilySearch.org.

3.^  Vermont, Vital Records Index, Marriages.

4.^  Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954, at FamilySearch.org.

5.^  Find A Grave memorial #112763842, Eliza Staples Whitney.

6.^  Vermont, Vital Records Index, Marriages.

7.^  Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954, at FamilySearch.org.

8.^  "James Whitney (b. 1821, Brookfield, VT, s. of Charles Whitney & Abigail Smith) & Catharine F. Smith, m. 15 Mar 1884, Nashua, Hillsborough Co., NH," according to New Hampshire, Vital Records, Marriage Index.

9.^  Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954, at FamilySearch.org.

10.^  Find A Grave memorial #112763867, George Whitney.

11.^  Find A Grave memorial #115229634, Fannie M. Whitney Jackson.

12.^  Vermont, Vital Records Index, Marriages.

13.^  Vermont, Vital Records Index, Marriages.

14.^  1870 Mortality Schedule.

15.^  Find A Grave memorial #112763891, Martha Whitney.

16.^  Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954, at FamilySearch.org.

17.^  Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954, at FamilySearch.org.], at FamilySearch.org.

18.^  New Hampshire, Marriage Records, 1637-1947 and New Hampshire, Marriage Records, 1637-1947, at FamilySearch.org.

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Copyright © 2011, 2013, 2014, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.